Germination of aromatic geraniums is surprisingly simple, inexpensive, and needs no special tools. In fact, some gardeners find success by only severing a stem and growing it in the same container as the parent plant. Here are some easy to follow instructions for cultivating fragrant geraniums from cuttings if you choose to be more methodical and increase your chances of success.
How to Root Scented Geranium Cuttings
Although pelargonium cuttings can take root at any time after spring thanks to the adaptability of these plants, late summer is the best period for this process.
Use a clean, sharp knife to cut a stem from a plant that is actively growing. Just below a leaf joint, make the cut. Save for the top two, remove all of the leaves. Remove the stem’s buds and blossoms as well.
Get a little pot with a hole for drainage. For a single cutting, a 3-inch (7.6 cm) pot is adequate, but a 4- to 6-inch (10 to 15 cm) pot can accommodate four to five cuttings. Put ordinary potting soil or seed starter in the pot. Avoid combinations that have additional fertilizer.
When the potting mix is evenly moistened but not soggy or dripping wet, water the potting mix thoroughly before setting it aside to drain. In the wet potting soil, plant the cutting. Make sure the upper leaves are elevated above the ground. Avoid using rooting hormone; it is not required.
To get rid of air bubbles, lightly push the potting soil; do not compact it. To allow for airflow, loosely cover the pot with plastic and then poke many holes in it. (Plastic is not required, but the greenhouse setting might hasten rooting.) Add a few chopsticks or drinking straws to hold the plastic above the leaves.
Set the pot in a dimly lit area. It’s fine if the room temperature is normal. If the weather is not too hot and the sun is not too bright, you can put the pot outside. After about a week, or whenever it starts to feel dry, water the potting mix lightly. It is best to water from the bottom up. In the event that you see water drops, take the plastic off for a few hours. Cuttings will rot if there is too much dampness.
When fresh growth occurs, indicating the cuttings have rooted, remove the plastic permanently and transplant the cuttings into individual pots. This procedure could take a few days or even a few weeks.
Rooting Scented Geraniums in Water
Although most gardeners find that potting mix is more reliable for establishing Pelargonium cuttings, you might have success establishing scented geraniums in water. This is how:
One-third of a jar should be filled with room temperature water. In the water, add a perfumed geranium cutting. Be sure to fully submerge the bottom part of the cutting.
Put the jar in a warm area, like a window that gets plenty of sun. A hot, direct sun should be avoided as it will fry the cutting.
In about a month, look for the development of roots. Place the rooted cutting in a container with a standard potting mix after that.
Can you cut scented geraniums for cuttings?
Pelargoniums, or scented-leaf geraniums, are lovely plants with a range of aromas, including lemon and rose. When the leaves are softly stroked between the fingers, the scent is emitted. The leaves can be used to flavor cordials and sweets.
While they might be pricey to purchase, scented geraniums are simple to grow from cuttings.
Can fragrant geraniums grow roots in water?
Geraniums can grow roots in water, yes. Approximately 6-inch-long cuttings should only have the top leaves left on them. Place the cuttings in a water-filled container in a well-lit area away from the sun. To prevent leaves from rotting in the water, make sure to remove all foliage from any cuttings that may fall below the water’s surface. Hopefully, the cuttings will ultimately produce roots so they may be replanted.
By putting the cuttings in moist vermiculite or perlite, you might have more success. These soilless products encourage good moisture retention and aeration. To promote root formation, dip the bottom end of the stems into rooting hormone. A slow-release granular fertilizer made for annual flowers works nicely on geraniums.
How long do geranium cuttings take to take root?
Water should be added to the jar to cover the main stem but not the leaves.
Place in a space that maintains a temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit on a sunny windowsill.
To keep the water fresh, change it every day. At the base of the stem, roots should start to form after around four weeks.
Is it possible to grow geraniums from a single leaf?
Yes, you can grow aromatic geraniums even from a leaf cutting. If you don’t have much stuff to work with, this may be useful.
Although leaf cuttings can also be planted in potting soil, stem cuttings are preferred since they are more dependable and take root much faster.
You can verify this by planting the lowest leaves from a stem cutting in their own potting soil instead of discarding them.
Cutting off a small portion of the stem while removing a leaf from the stem is essential for effectively propagating a geranium from it.
To prevent it from losing too much moisture, place the leaf between the compost and the side of the pot and cut back roughly half of the leaf surface.
Use a plastic cover in this situation, but make sure it doesn’t touch the leaf as it will greatly aid in the rooting process.
Which is preferable, geraniums rooted in soil or water?
Geranium plant cuttings take root quite well and don’t require any herbicide or fungicide, yet complete success is unlikely. Simply place your cutting in a container filled with warm, damp potting soil. Place the pot in a bright area away from direct sunlight and give it a good watering.
Geranium plant cuttings are prone to decaying, therefore don’t cover the pot. When the soil feels dry, water the pot. Your geranium plant cuttings should have roots in only a week or two.
Allow your cuttings to remain in the open air for three days before planting them in the ground if you intend to do so. By doing this, the clipped tip will begin to develop a callus that will help protect it from rot and fungus in the non-sterile garden soil.
How are scented geraniums overwintered?
Given that pelargoniums are indigenous to South Africa, it is not unexpected that they cannot withstand extremely cold temperatures, let alone icy winters.
Only the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11 are suitable for growing scented geraniums in the winter.
In other zones, their main protection from frost damage is overwintering techniques.
Having said that, geraniums like a minimum temperature of about 19 degrees Fahrenheit. This does not imply that the plant won’t suffer harm at this temperature, but rather that the harm from the cold might only be slight.
Your pelargoniums should typically be prepared for overwintering when the fall evening lows begin to fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Placing potted geranium in cool storage
What you must do if you have decided to use the cool storage overwintering approach is as follows:
- Find an area where the temperature doesn’t drop below freezing for your geraniums (garage, basement, shed, cellar, etc.). It ought to be a cool location.
- Trim the plant back by a third to a half, and take out any sick or damaged areas.
- deeply wet, then put in storage
- During the winter, water sparingly and inspect the plant for illness symptoms.
Placing bare root geranium in cool storage
Similar to the last example, you can also overwinter scented geraniums in cool storage by placing them in an unheated area where the temperature doesn’t drop below freezing, but this time you won’t be using pots or soil.
What you must do is as follows:
- Remove the plant from its container and clean the roots’ dirt.
- After letting the plant dry naturally for a few days, wrap it in paper, newspaper, or cardboard and set it on a shelf.
- Every month, bathe the plants for one to two hours in warm water.
- Let dry a little before putting back in storage.
The geranium should be kept dry and away from moisture, which would encourage mold. Never let it dry up entirely though. The plant can be kept alive by giving it a monthly watering.
What can you make of fragrant geranium leaves?
You can grow roses, gardenias, heliotropes, or hyacinths in your garden if you’re gardening for smell. Additionally, try some scented geraniums or grow some in pots to enjoy indoors. These attractive plants, which are linked to ordinary garden geraniums, have aromatic scents that can be strong or delicate.
The genus Pelargonium, which includes scented geraniums, has been around since the 1600s, when Dutch sailors took them back to their gardens after finding them growing wild in South Africa. The plants were once again in motion by the late 1700s and had gained popularity in both America and Europe.
They gained popularity because they were, and still are, simple and enjoyable to maintain, but over time, contemporary hybrids with large, striking blooms took the place of their delicate hues and typically modest blossoms.
Nowadays, you can get scented geraniums with green, bluish-green, gray-green, or variegated foliage in white, pink, red, and lavender. Interestingly, the leaves, which contain aromatic oils, are where their smell originates.
The plants are regaining popularity because of their enormous diversity of scents. You can choose between sweet cultivars that smell like chocolate and violets or fruity varieties that smell like apples, lemons, limes, and oranges. Peppermint, cinnamon, anise, nutmeg, or pine are the common scents of spicy pelargoniums. As long as the leaves have never been cultivated or treated with chemicals, rose-scented geranium leaves can be used to flavor cakes and other meals.
Many scented geraniums are good for growing in containers and can withstand dry soil. When watering, thoroughly soak the plant and drain any extra liquid. After that, wait a little while before watering the soil once again. Use a planting medium that drains well because the plants dislike having wet feet.
Scented Geranium ‘Apricot’
The upright growth habit and delicious scent of the pelargonium “Apricot” make it the perfect plant for pots.
In Southern climes, especially, scented geraniums may require protection from the hot afternoon sun. They prefer full sun. Take cuttings or bring your potted plants inside for the winter before it becomes too cold outside. Give them a well-lit exposure; otherwise, they can slant toward the light and begin to appear leggy. Till spring, apply very little, if any, fertilizer; after that, only lightly feed. Legginess can also result from over feeding.
With the lengthening of the days, buds will begin to form. Once your plants begin to develop actively, you might want to cut or pinch them back to keep them bushy and shrubby, but hold off until the flowers are finished. In the late October, stop trimming and pinching.
Pests and diseases rarely affect scented geraniums. Depending on where your plants are growing, use a product designated for indoor or outdoor usage and follow the advice if you do notice common pests like aphids or whiteflies.
Are you ready for more scented flowers? Scented geraniums are challenging to raise from seed (and hybridized types won’t always produce offspring that resemble the parent plant). Cuttings make it simpler to recreate them. Cut a stem that is 3 to 4 inches long with a sharp knife. Insert the cutting into a mixture of sand and perlite after stripping off the leaves about an inch from the bottom of the cutting. Till roots grow, keep the cutting wet but not waterlogged. After that, you can transplant it into a 4″ container with standard potting soil. Move the potted cutting into the garden or a bigger pot once it has a robust root system and the weather is consistently warm.
What distinguishes scented geraniums from regular geraniums?
Scented geraniums (Pelargonium spp.), which are herbaceous perennials native to South Africa and grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, release potent fragrances from their leaves. The over 200 officially recognized cultivars are divided into groups based on their scents. Compared to real geraniums, scented geranium blossoms are smaller and lack aroma. Many fragrant geraniums give food, sugar, syrup, and hot tea flavor.
Do fragrant geraniums require full sun?
The care of scented geraniums is quite simple. They can be grown in the ground, in containers, or both indoors and outdoors. Although they may require some protection when the sun is at its hottest, they prefer lots of sun. They don’t care much about the type of soil, but they don’t enjoy wet feet.
While they are actively growing, fertilize them softly and sparingly. The main drawback of scented geraniums is that they have a propensity to grow lanky and require trimming to encourage bushiness. Overfertilization just makes this issue worse.
However, don’t discard those trimmings. Cuttings of scented geranium can be simply grown to replace older plants or to make thoughtful gifts for friends. You could wish to use plants that you’ve grown from cuttings to line a sidewalk or path. Grow scented geraniums where they will be handled, whether in pots or the ground, as the leaves need to be brushed or crushed to release the fragrance oils.
Dig up your plants for indoor use or collect cuttings for winter growth before the first fall frost. Geraniums with a fragrant scent thrive in similar conditions to those outside. Maintain them in a sunny window, give them regular waterings, and apply very little fertilizer.
It’s amazing that every gardener doesn’t have at least one scented geranium because caring for them is so simple both inside and out. They make the ideal plant for a balcony or patio. They are edible in addition to providing fragrant leaves, gorgeous blossoms, and exquisite fragrances. The aromatherapy is free to use and the leaves can be used to flavor drinks, jellies, or baked foods. So ignore the roses. Observe the perfumed geranium and take a whiff.